Any knowledge if Southwest is diverting connections to us from another location (Midway, for example) or if this is just an additional desitination for Salt Lake City?

Very happy to see an addition. I have not flown in a few months, one of my best friends did recently (the first time in years for him) and he was quick to text about how much busier T2 is now, and how long the concourse is now.

Any knowledge if Southwest is diverting connections to us from another location (Midway, for example) or if this is just an additional desitination for Salt Lake City?

Very happy to see an addition. I have not flown in a few months, one of my best friends did recently (the first time in years for him) and he was quick to text about how much busier T2 is now, and how long the concourse is now.

They are moving connections from MDW to STL, I don't know if this is one or not. I think the DTW add was one though over summer.

Once they open the next bank of gates it will be half mile from E4 to E48. Long haul, but there are some other airports that are longer.

Any knowledge if Southwest is diverting connections to us from another location (Midway, for example) or if this is just an additional desitination for Salt Lake City?

Very happy to see an addition. I have not flown in a few months, one of my best friends did recently (the first time in years for him) and he was quick to text about how much busier T2 is now, and how long the concourse is now.

They are moving connections from MDW to STL, I don't know if this is one or not. I think the DTW add was one though over summer.

Once they open the next bank of gates it will be half mile from E4 to E48. Long haul, but there are some other airports that are longer.

Any thoughts on why WN moving connections from MDW? 1) MDW at capacity 2) MDW getting more expensive and STL enplanement cost on downward trend 3) MDW wx impacts more severe and therefore more costly over the winter months

^I have to assume both capacity and weather are factors. Midway has hovered between 250,000 and 300,000 aircraft operations for a decade now, actually falling in recent years. (They hit their peak more than a decade ago, believe it or not.) Their longest runway is a thousand feet shorter than our shortest. They have five runways, but only four are suitable for commercial aircraft of any size. Of those, only two can be used at any given time, since they intersect dead center, meaning functionally what they have is two closely spaced parallels. During IFR operations they've got to be a one runway airport, with that one runway being quite short. That means weather will hit them unusually hard. Southwest has got to be thinking they want to save their rather precious slots there for O&D. I can't speak to cost per emplanement. I don't really know of any reason it should be going up significantly there. But since it was so high here the fact that it's coming down doubtless helps. And hey, that cost was associated with an extra runway that means Lambert is only a one runway airport under the very rarest (yesterday's ridiculous wind) circumstances.

^I have to assume both capacity and weather are factors. Midway has hovered between 250,000 and 300,000 aircraft operations for a decade now, actually falling in recent years. (They hit their peak more than a decade ago, believe it or not.) Their longest runway is a thousand feet shorter than our shortest. They have five runways, but only four are suitable for commercial aircraft of any size. Of those, only two can be used at any given time, since they intersect dead center, meaning functionally what they have is two closely spaced parallels. During IFR operations they've got to be a one runway airport, with that one runway being quite short. That means weather will hit them unusually hard. Southwest has got to be thinking they want to save their rather precious slots there for O&D. I can't speak to cost per emplanement. I don't really know of any reason it should be going up significantly there. But since it was so high here the fact that it's coming down doubtless helps. And hey, that cost was associated with an extra runway that means Lambert is only a one runway airport under the very rarest (yesterday's ridiculous wind) circumstances.

Just thinking here - but Midway underwent some pretty expansive renovations a few years back. That my have driven up there landing fees? I certainly DON'T want that to happen here, but I also wonder if it would be worth it to expand the concourse to the east, add a few gates ahead of E2 / E4. It would really only help locals, and help center our entrance more rather than push down D. Connectors would have the same walk regardless.

^I have to assume both capacity and weather are factors. Midway has hovered between 250,000 and 300,000 aircraft operations for a decade now, actually falling in recent years. (They hit their peak more than a decade ago, believe it or not.) Their longest runway is a thousand feet shorter than our shortest. They have five runways, but only four are suitable for commercial aircraft of any size. Of those, only two can be used at any given time, since they intersect dead center, meaning functionally what they have is two closely spaced parallels. During IFR operations they've got to be a one runway airport, with that one runway being quite short. That means weather will hit them unusually hard. Southwest has got to be thinking they want to save their rather precious slots there for O&D. I can't speak to cost per emplanement. I don't really know of any reason it should be going up significantly there. But since it was so high here the fact that it's coming down doubtless helps. And hey, that cost was associated with an extra runway that means Lambert is only a one runway airport under the very rarest (yesterday's ridiculous wind) circumstances.

Just thinking here - but Midway underwent some pretty expansive renovations a few years back. That my have driven up there landing fees? I certainly DON'T want that to happen here, but I also wonder if it would be worth it to expand the concourse to the east, add a few gates ahead of E2 / E4. It would really only help locals, and help center our entrance more rather than push down D. Connectors would have the same walk regardless.

There is room to push east. Two to three gates. Tarmac would have to be built. Way less money to reopen whats there.

Recently I was walking through concourse A and realized that I have never seen a plane parked at gate A3. I know this is a Delta gate, but when do they use it? Is it primarily used as overflow in case A2-8 is filled?

Recently I was walking through concourse A and realized that I have never seen a plane parked at gate A3. I know this is a Delta gate, but when do they use it? Is it primarily used as overflow in case A2-8 is filled?

Also, gate A9 and A15 are used for charters correct?

I think A3 is used for the LGA flights a lot. When I go to LGA it usually is that gate. There are 6 a day to LGA, 4 of the 6 used A3 today.

A15 is charters. A9 is just overflow. I have only seen it used by Delta to offload the late incoming SLC flight. No one ever loads on it. The waiting area is small so that is why no one uses it much. Would have to be an RJ. If contour ever started codesharing with Delta or United they could probably make it work, but that is about it.

New T2 Chapel opening this Friday near E40. Here's an interesting tidbit from the article,

"We're excited about this because in the absence there have been many employees and many passengers asking for this chapel," said the Rev. Rodrick Burton, president of the St. Louis Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy.

Burton said at first glance he was concerned that the new location is further away from many Southwest gates than the old one, which was near gate E33 further east.

But he said he believes Southwest will continue to expand its flights at Lambert and will eventually add more gates near the new chapel into the unusued D concourse. <<< By my recollection, this is the first person who's publicly stated (even if it's in speculative terms) Southwest's expansion in the D Concourse. Can a gate expansion announcement be far behind?
Burton said the chapel will be "very utilitarian." <<< Translation: It's going to be pretty plain.

"There are going to be the essentials for prayer, worship and meditation," the said, including an altar, chairs and book cases.

Others noted that started Oct or later
F9 West Palm Beach (PBI) ..........73.55% -- Started November
SY Fort Myers FL (RSW) ..........64.24% Started October
SY Tampa FL (TPA) ..........70.10% Started November

But he said he believes Southwest will continue to expand its flights at Lambert and will eventually add more gates near the new chapel into the unusued D concourse. <<< By my recollection, this is the first person who's publicly stated (even if it's in speculative terms) Southwest's expansion in the D Concourse. Can a gate expansion announcement be far behind?

I don't know about an announcement, but jshank mentioned upthread they've already agreed to do 3 more. Airport just hasn't put the renovation work out to bid. If the 2020 date holds true, I could see an announcement sometime this year.

Burton said the chapel will be "very utilitarian."[/b] <<< Translation: It's going to be pretty plain.

"There are going to be the essentials for prayer, worship and meditation," the said, including an altar, chairs and book cases.

Given that the old one looked like simple religious furnishings shoved in a disused windowless office anyway I'm neither much surprised nor too disappointed by this. I expect it'll be exactly the same furniture as the previous one, just in a new location. Maybe there'll even be a window. In that case you could buy some stained glass at your favorite local bric-a-brac shop and do better.

But he said he believes Southwest will continue to expand its flights at Lambert and will eventually add more gates near the new chapel into the unusued D concourse. <<< By my recollection, this is the first person who's publicly stated (even if it's in speculative terms) Southwest's expansion in the D Concourse. Can a gate expansion announcement be far behind?

I don't know about an announcement, but jshank mentioned upthread they've already agreed to do 3 more. Airport just hasn't put the renovation work out to bid. If the 2020 date holds true, I could see an announcement sometime this year.

Then I soooo hope they will consider opening the hallway to C again. Fixes so many issues for frequent fliers out of lambert.

But he said he believes Southwest will continue to expand its flights at Lambert and will eventually add more gates near the new chapel into the unusued D concourse. <<< By my recollection, this is the first person who's publicly stated (even if it's in speculative terms) Southwest's expansion in the D Concourse. Can a gate expansion announcement be far behind?

I don't know about an announcement, but jshank mentioned upthread they've already agreed to do 3 more.

Yes, this is what I was referring to when I stated the Reverend is, by my recollection, the first person to publicly mention further expansion. I wouldn't be surprised to find out STL privately informed him of this when the told him of the new chapel location. Otherwise, putting the chapel all the way down by the last functioning gate of E would have seemed disrespectful.

The new chapel location MAY be an indication that they'll completely re-open the old D after SWA takes those additional three gates. This way, the chapel can be accessed by both sides of the concourse.

Burton said the chapel will be "very utilitarian."[/b] <<< Translation: It's going to be pretty plain.

"There are going to be the essentials for prayer, worship and meditation," the said, including an altar, chairs and book cases.

Given that the old one looked like simple religious furnishings shoved in a disused windowless office anyway I'm neither much surprised nor too disappointed by this. I expect it'll be exactly the same furniture as the previous one, just in a new location. Maybe there'll even be a window. In that case you could buy some stained glass at your favorite local bric-a-brac shop and do better.

Here's the Twitter announcement (same on Facebook) about the new T2 Chapel.

STL Airport
‏@flystl
8m8 minutes ago
More
After a brief closure, the Terminal 2 Chapel at #stlairport will re-open this Friday near gate E40.
Clergy with St. Louis Airport Interfaith Chaplaincy #slaic will hold a dedication and open house beginning 11:30 a.m. Mar 22.

But he said he believes Southwest will continue to expand its flights at Lambert and will eventually add more gates near the new chapel into the unusued D concourse. <<< By my recollection, this is the first person who's publicly stated (even if it's in speculative terms) Southwest's expansion in the D Concourse. Can a gate expansion announcement be far behind?

I don't know about an announcement, but jshank mentioned upthread they've already agreed to do 3 more. Airport just hasn't put the renovation work out to bid. If the 2020 date holds true, I could see an announcement sometime this year.

Then I soooo hope they will consider opening the hallway to C again. Fixes so many issues for frequent fliers out of lambert.

I'm with you. I don't know that I fully qualify as a frequent flyer but I'm in and out of Lambert once or twice about every 4 to 6 weeks and I always seem to end up in the E33-40 range whenever I depart. Would love to be able to get dropped off at the much less busy Main Terminal and walk down since I don't ever check bags. East Terminal is busy as hell it seems all the time now, which is great. More than anything I'd just love to walk through the old historic terminal building again lol, it's been years.